June 2007
Volume 7, Issue 9
Free
Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2007
Interactive effects of size, contrast, intensity and configuration of background objects in evoking disruptive camouflage in cuttlefish
Author Affiliations
  • Chuan-Chin Chiao
    Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
  • Charles Chubb
    Department of Cognitive Sciences & Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences, University of California at Irvine, USA
  • Roger Hanlon
    Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
Journal of Vision June 2007, Vol.7, 975. doi:https://doi.org/10.1167/7.9.975
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Chuan-Chin Chiao, Charles Chubb, Roger Hanlon; Interactive effects of size, contrast, intensity and configuration of background objects in evoking disruptive camouflage in cuttlefish. Journal of Vision 2007;7(9):975. https://doi.org/10.1167/7.9.975.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Disruptive body coloration is a primary camouflage tactic of cuttlefish. Because rapid changeable coloration of cephalopods is guided visually, we can present different visual backgrounds (e.g., computer-generated, 2-dimensional prints) and video record the animal's response by describing and grading its body pattern. We showed previously that certain aspects of size, contrast, and number of light squares on a checkerboard background elicit disruptive coloration in cuttlefish. Here we test some of the complex interactions among key background features such as size, contrast, overall intensity, and context (or configuration). A key finding is that contrast (measured as Weber contrast) has a strong influence on evoking disruptive coloration, even over large variations in size of the light objects on a dark surround (shown previously to be the central basic stimulus). Moreover, for fixed light object Weber contrast, disruptive responding decreases with increasing background mean luminance. This study highlights the complex interactions of multiple features of visual backgrounds that directly influence the choice of camouflage pattern that a cuttlefish will choose as it encounters different visual microhabitats in the natural environment.

Chiao, C.-C. Chubb, C. Hanlon, R. (2007). Interactive effects of size, contrast, intensity and configuration of background objects in evoking disruptive camouflage in cuttlefish [Abstract]. Journal of Vision, 7(9):975, 975a, http://journalofvision.org/7/9/975/, doi:10.1167/7.9.975. [CrossRef]
Footnotes
 Support: National Science Council of Taiwan, NSC-95-2621-B-007-001-MY3
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×